Respected artist, Thomasin Dewhurst has taught Art and Piano to children and adults for over twenty years. With a Masters Degree in Art and Art History, and advanced qualifications in Piano & Piano/Music Theory from Trinity College of Music, London, Thomasin offers high quality lessons and workshops for beginner to intermediate/advanced students. Students participate in two piano recitals each year, and in various art exhibitions (winning many top awards!).

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Here are the results (and examples of the works in progress) of the sculptures of hands my younger students have been working on.

After drawing their own hands for the first half of the month, the students began working on clay sculptures of their hands.

The aim of the sculpture project was to continue the intense observation (proportion, size, shape and relationships between shapes, and details such as wrinkles, nails, bones, soft areas, muscular areas, rounded areas etc. of the hands). The students also worked on a concept of their own choice that they could incorporate into their sculptures. The students explored Halloween themes (they enjoyed the idea of disembodied hands ... !), hands holding objects, and hands as an expression of mood or gesture (hands stretching, fingers bending, clenching etc.).

We used armature in the form of wire and sticks to work the joints in the fingers and to attach the fingers to the palm of the hand.

The most commented-on observation was how far down the thumb is located from the rest of the fingers. The students worked very hard on this month-long project, and were very pleased with the results they achieved after pushing themselves those (many!) extra miles.

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

This is the start of a month-long project my younger students (ages 4 years to 12 years old) are working on. We are studying hands: proportions, shape, size and other details such as wrinkles in the skin, shadows and light, and the bone and muscle structure under the skin.

The students are beginning with lines drawings of their own hand and will work towards a more conceptual drawing with the hand holding something or grabbing something, making an artwork that is meaningful to the student, and that conveys an idea or emotion through the expressiveness of the hand. We will go on to make clay sculptures of their hands, taking their second drawing as inspiration, but not necessarily just copying what they did in their drawing. Through the sculpture, the students will develop their ideas as well as their observational and technical skills.

Drawings after the first hour of intense observation and plenty of readjustments:

Recommendation for art teacher, Thomasin Dewhurst

“I have known Thomasin for a number of years in both her capacities as a student of fine art and a professional artist. She is a dedicated and highly talented artist and accomplished educator. Rarely is such talent available to those wishing to further their art education and take their artistic skills to (much) higher levels.” June 15, 2012

I use the Faber Piano Adventures series books for my students who are learning the piano. I have found these books to be thorough and very clearly presented, with many very enjoyable and varied pieces. My students, from the very young beginning pianist to the intermediate level adult pianist, find these books stimulating and challenging without being frustrating.

Faber Piano Adventures books include the Lesson, Performance, Technique and Artistry, and Theory books plus the supplementary Gold Star Performance, Popular Repertoire, Christmas, and a new sight-reading book.

Faber also offers many other piano book for early and beginning students such as books on improvisation, duets, collections of rock 'n roll pieces, classics, favorite pieces, and many more.